Electrical junction



April 21, 1970 c. CULVER ELECTRICAL JUNCTION :5 Sheets- Sheet 1 FiledJune 5, 1968 INVENTOR.

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A ril 21, 1970 P. c. CULVER 3,508,189

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United States Patent 3,508,189 ELECTRICAL JUNCTION Perriu C. Culver,Oceanside, Calif., assignor to The Deutsch Company Electronic ComponentsDivision, Banning, Calif., a corporation of California Filed June 3,1968, Ser. No. 734,114 Int. Cl. H011 13/12 US. Cl. 339205 21 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An electrical connector that includes a bodyof dielectric material having at least one opening therein, and aduality of sheet metal members in the opening, the sheet metal membersincluding side edge portions, which are in adjacency and received inlateral slots extending from the opening, and having opposed arcuateportions Within the opening, each arcuate portion including a resilienttab directed inwardly toward the axis of the opening to a positionadjacent the rearward shoulder of a contact received therein, each sheetmetal member also including an oblique portion, these portions being inopposed relationship in the two sheet metal elements and definingarcuate segments which engage opposite sides of the forward pin portionof the contact to effect an electrical connection therewith, therearward edges of the arcuate segments of the oblique portionspresenting surfaces that preclude movement of the contact in the forwarddirection, the sheet metal members being adapted for construction toreceive either one contact in each opening, or pairs of contacts in eachopening in an end-to-end relationship, and also being adapted forconstruction in strips extending to additional openings for receivingadditional contacts and connecting the contacts for electrical currentto flow therebetween through the sheet metal members.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This inventionrelates to an electrical connector.

The prior art Electrical connecting devices that serve as junctionscommonly include a bus bar or equivalent connecting means that providesa path of current for various contacts secured to it. In one form ofjunction device, the connector includes a body of dielectric materialhaving openings in it, within which is a clip to hold the contact inplace. The clip is of tubular shape with appropriate elements to engageand secure the contact. The contact engages the bus bar Within the bodyto join appropriate numbers of contacts. Prior electrical connectors ofthis and other types have necessitated the size, expense and complexityof the various parts required in both holding the contacts in place andjoining the contacts to each other in an electrically conductiverealtionship. Also, the clip devices used in securing the contactsusually are of tubular configuration with various portions bent fromthem to engage the contact and the body to serve the retaining function.Such tubular elements are relatively difiicult to form, particularly inthe small sizes becoming increasingly prevalent for high-performancemissile and aircraft applications.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a vastlysimplied connector overcoming the difficulties encountered with priorconnector and junction devices. It entirely eliminates the need for aseparate bus bar or other interconnecting element. The inventionincludes a body of dielectric material 3,508,189 Patented Apr. 21, 1970having openings in it to receive the contacts. Also within each openingis a duality of sheet metal members. These members include overlappingside edge portions which extend into slots in the body of the openingsfor positioning the sheet metal elements. Opposed resilient tabs extendfrom the sheet metal members for holding the contacts against movementrearwardly. These tabs are defiectable by the insertion of tubular toolsto allow rear insertion and release of the electrical contacts. Alsoincluded on each sheet metal element is an oblique portion having anarcuate section that bears against the end of the contact to effect anelectrical connection with it. This section of each element also has anedge that is adjacent an additional shoulder on the contact to preventforward movement of the contact.

The sheet metal members may be made up in strips with alternate sectionsthat are assembled in a mating relation ship to receive desired numbersof contacts and to bus them together, as the electrical circuit iscompleted through the sheet metal elements rather than a bus bar. Thedevice may be made as a feed-through connector, where each pair ofopposed sheet metal elements is adapted to receive two contacts in anend-to-end realtionship. It also is adaptable for use as a terminaldevice, where all the contacts are received from the same side, with thesheet metal elements then being of only half the lengths of those usedin the feed-through configuration.

An object of this invention is to provide a simplified electricalconnecting device.

Another object of this invention is to provide an electrical connectingdevice that will join together in an electrically conductiverelationship a plurality of contacts without requiring the use of a busbar.

An additional object of this invention is to provide an electricalconnecting device in which the same elements are used both in retainingthe contacts and in bussing them together.

A further object of this invention is to provide an electricalconnecting device that is compact in size and easily manufactured.

An additional object of this invention is to provide an electricalconnector which is manufacturable either as a feed-through device foraccepting contacts from either end in an opposed relationship, or as aterminal device in which all the contacts are inserted from one side.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an electricalconnector of appropriate strength and durability that will securely holdthe contacts and provide a lowresistance current path therebetween.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a simplifiedelectrical connecting device providing for rearward insertion andextraction of the contacts.

Another object of this invention is to provide an electrical connectingdevice in which the sheet metal parts that retain and connect thecontacts include alternate sections of identical configuration allowingthese parts to be arranged in many different combinations to bustogether various numbers of contacts.

These and other objects will become apparent from the .followingdetailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of afeed-through electrical connector in accordance with this invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken along line 2-2of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken along line33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the retainer clip,separated from the remaining components of the connector;

FIGURE is an end elevational view of the retainer clip in the assembledposition;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 7 is a transverse sectional view, similar to FIGURE 2,illustrating a modified arrangement of the retainer clip for bussingtogether a different number of contacts;

FIGURE 8 is an end elevational view of a contoured sheet metal strip,severable to form the retainer clip assernblies; and

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view illustrating theinvention as employed in a different electrical connector in whichcontacts are inserted from only one end.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As illustrated in FIGURES 1, 2and 3 of the drawing, the arrangement of this invention is used inproviding a feed-through type of electrical connector. In other words,this device will receive electrical contacts inserted from either end ofthe connector, and provide an electrical connection between them. Withinthe unit, desired combinations of the contacts in the various openingsare bussed together.

The device includes a housing 10 made up of identical sections 11 and 12of rigid dielectric material, such as a hard plastic. The housingsections include flat abutting surfaces that are secured together at theplane of engagement 13 by suitable means, such as sonic welding. Thehousing 10 includes a plurality of openings 14 extending from one end ofthe housing to the other. In the embodiment illustrated, there are eightof the openings 14 arranged with their axes parallel in two straightrows of four. At their outer ends, the housing sections 11 and 12 arerecessed to receive sealing inserts 15 and 16 preferably made of aresilient elastomer, such as rubber. The openings 14 continue throughthe members 15 and 16, so that there is an uninterrupted passageway fromone end of the unit to the other at the location of each of the openings14. Within the openings 14 in the member 15 are annular ribs 18, 19 and20 that bear against the peripheries of the wires extending through themto provide a moistureproof seal. Similar ribs 22, 23 and 24 in themember 16 provide a seal for the wires extending inwardly from theopposite end of the openings 14.

At the right-hand side of the connector shown in FIG- URES 1, 2 and 3,an insulated Wire 25 extends downwardly into the upper portion of theopening 14. The insulation is removed from the end of the wire 25, whichis received within the hollow barrel 26 of a pin contact 27. There, itis secured to the contact by crimping or other suitable means. Thecontact 27 includes an enlarged annular portion 28 beyond which is ashort forwardly projecting pin section 29. A forward shoulder 30 isprovided between the annular section 28 and the pin portion 29, while arearward shoulder 31 is located between the annular portion 28 and thebarrel 26.

An additional wire 32 extends upwardly into the bottom end of the sameopening 14 and connects to the barrel portion 33 of a similar pincontact 34. The latter element includes a rearward shoulder 35 betweenthe annular enlargement 36 and the barrel 33. A forward shoulder 37 islocated between the annular section 36 and the projecting pin portion38.

In the upper portion of the adjacent opening 14 to the left is anadditional contact 39 at the end of a wire 40. The bottom portion ofthis opening 14 does not contain a contact or wire, as the device isshown.

The contacts 27, 34 and 39 are held in the opening 14 in the positionsshown by means of a retainer clip assembly 41. The latter unit is seenalone in exploded perspective in FIGURE 4 and in end elevation in itsassembled position in FIGURE 5. The retainer clip assembly 41 is made upof two sheet metal sections 42 and 43,

which may be made of resilient beryllium copper or other appropriateelectrically conductive material. The unit shown is adapted to retain amaximum of four contacts in sets of two in axially aligned end-to-endrelationship.

The sheet metal member 42 is generally U-shaped in end elevation. Alongits side edges are longitudinally extending flanges 45 and 46. Inwardlyof the flanges 45 and 46, the element 42 includes upstanding walls 47and 48 which, through arcuate portions 49 and 50, connect to a flatlongitudinal central portion 51. The central portion 51 is parallel tothe side flanges 45 and 46, and perpendicular to the walls 47 and 48.

Inwardly of either end, the member 42 is cut longitudinally andtransversely to allow four generally triangular tabs 52, 53, 54 and 55to be bent inwardly. The tabs are formed from the arcuate portions 49and 50 of the member 42. They are resilient and preferably of spiralcontour, terminating in end edges 56, 57, 58 and 59, which are radialrelative to the curvature of the arcuate portions 49 and 50.

The middle portion of the member 42 includes oblique sections 61 and 62that are inclined at an angle of 45 relative to the plane of the portion51 and that of the flanges 45 and 46. The oblique sections 61 and 62converge from locations adjacent the bases of the side walls 47 and 48to the central planar section 51, but are spaced apart at the latterlocation. The oblique sections 61 and 62 at their side edges are planar,inwardly of which are arcuate portions 63 and 64 defined by segments ofcylinders. The material of the member 42 is cut away so that the ends ofthe arcuate segments 63 and 64 are spaced from the adjacent ends of theinwardly inclined tabs 52, 53, 54 and 55. Thus, the ends 66 and 67 ofthe arcuate segment 63 are spaced from the end edges 56 and 59 of thetabs 52 and 53, respectively. Similarly, there is a spacing between theend edges 58 and 59 of the tabs 54 and 55, and the adjacent ends 68 and69 of the arcuate segment 64. This spacing is slightly greater than thelengths of the enlarged annular portions 28 and 36 of the contacts to beretained. The ends 66, 67, '68 and 69 of the arcuate segments are bentoutwardly, as illustrated, so that there are provided inclined entrancesinto the arcuate portions 63 and 64.

The member 43 is contoured to mate with the member 42 to provide twoelongated receptacle portions. The member 43 includes two substantiallyflat longitudinal side edge portions 71 and 72 which connect to arcuateportions 73 and 74. Each of the latter sections extends throughapproximately 90, and they connect to parallel upstanding walls 75 and76. A flat, relatively narrow longitudinal wall 77, which is parallel tothe side portions 71 and 72, interconnects the upper edges of the walls75 and 76.

Inwardly of the ends of the members 43 are spiralshaped resilient tabs79, 80, 81 and 82, inclined inwardly relative to the axes of curvatureof the arcuate portions 73 and 74. These tabs, which are similar in sizeand shape to the tabs '52, 53, 54 and 55, terminate in forward edges 83,84, 85 and 86 that are radial relative to the arcuate portions 73 and74. The central oblique portions 87 and 88 of the member 43 correspondto the sections 61 and 62 of the member 42, being inclined at 45relative to the flat portions 71, 72 and 77. The oblique sections 87 and88 have central arcuate portions 89 and 90 that are segments ofcylinders. The ends 91 and 92 of the portion 89, and 93 and 94 of theportion 90, incline outwardly away from the axis of curvature to providesloping entrances to the arcuate central sections. These ends are spacedfrom the end edges of the resilient tabs 79, 80, 81 and 82 a distanceslightly greater than that of the length of the annular enlargement of acontact.

The sections 42 and 43 of the retainer clip assembly are assembled asindicated in FIGURE 4. In this relationship, the side flanges 45 and 46of the section 42 bear against the outer edges of the logitudinallyextending side portions 71 and 72 of the member 43. Also, the centralportion of the fiat part 51 of the member 42 engages the longitudinallyextending central portion 77 of the member 43. The retainer tabs 52 and53 are opposed to the retainer tabs 79 and 80, respectively, while thetabs 54 and 55 are positioned opposite from the tabs 81 and 82,respectively. The areuateportions 49 and 50 of the members 42 aredisposed oppositely from the arcuate corners 73 and 74, respectively, ofthe member 43. Similarly, the oblique central portions 61 and 62 of themember 42 are in opposed relationship and spaced from the correspondingoblique portions 87 and 88 of the mem' ber 43. These portions of the twosections of the retainer clip assembly 41 thereby define twolongitudinally extending openings 96 and 97 through the retainer clipassembly.

The outer end portions 99 and 100 of the openings 14in the housingsections 11 and 12, respectively, are cylindrical in shape. Inwardly ofthese outer portions, the openings 14 are substantially square. Radialshoulders 101 and 102 are provided between the cylindrical end portions99 and 100 and the central square portion. The assembled clip members 42and 43 fit within the square portions of the openings 14, being heldagainst movement axially of the openings 14 by the shoulders 101 and102. The elements 42 and 43 fit within two adjacent square centralportions of the openings 14, these being the lower right-hand twoopenings 14 as the device is seen in FIG- URE 2. These adjacent openingsare interconnected by a transverse slot 104 that extends between twoadjacent corners of the openings. The upper edge of the slot 104, asviewed in FIGURE 2, forms a continuation of the flat upper walls of thetwo openings 14. The superimposed portions 51 and 77 of the members 42and '43 fit within the slot 104, where they are closely confined. At theopposite corners of the two adjacent openings 14 are additional slots105 and 106 that are parallel to the slot 104. The lower walls of theseslots are extensions of the lower walls of the openings 14 from whichthey project. The side flange 45 of the member 42, and the outer edge ofthe side portion 71 of the member 43 fit substantially complementarilywithin the slot 105. The other side edge 46 of the member 42, togetherwith the outer portion of the side 72 of the member 43, is receivedwithin the slot 106.

In addition, the openings 14 are dimensioned so that the planar walls47, 48 and 51 of the member 42 and 71 and 72 of the member 43 bearagainst the sides of the openings 14. Also, the walls 75 and 76 contactthe walls of the adjacent openings 14 on either side of theinterconnecting web of the housing 10. In this manner, the retainer clipassembly 41 is securely positioned within the housing 10.

The contacts 27 and 34, after having been associated with the wires and32, are inserted into the opposite ends of the opening 14 at theright-hand side as the connector is shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. That is tosay, the contact 27 is pushed inwardly through the elastomeric element15 into one end of the opening 14, while the other contact 34 isinserted through the elastomeric sealing member 16 into the opposite endof the opening 14. As the contacts enter, they pry the tabs outwardly,permitting them subsequently to snap into place behind the shoulders 31and 35 of the contacts 27 and 34. Thus, as the contact 27 is pushed intothe opening 14 in one direction, its annular enlarged portion 28 engagesand slides along the generally longitudinal edges 107 and 108 of the twoopposed tabs 52 and 79. This deflects the tabs outwardly, opening themup so that the enlarged portion 28 of the contact may pass between them.After the shoulder 31 of the enlarged portion 28 of the contact 27passes the forward ends 56 and 83 of the tabs 52 and 79', respectively,the tabs 52 and 79 can move inwardly to where their inner corners bearagainst the surface of the barrel portion 26 of the contact 27. Thispresents the radial for- 6 Ward ends 56 and 83 of the two tabs adjacentthe radial shoulder 31 of the contact, so that the contact is preventedfrom withdrawal toward the rear.

As the contact 27 is being inserted, its pin portion 29 enters the spacebetween the arcuate sections 63 and 89 of the clip members 42 and 43.The pin end 29 moves smoothly into the space between the sections 63 and89 as the inclined entrance portions 66 and 91 make certain that thecontact does not become obstructed as it is slid into position. Thecontact 27 may move inwardly until the forward shoulder 30 of thecontact is adjacent the shoulders defined by the ends 66 and 91 of thearcuate portions 63 and 89 of the retainer clip sections 42 and 43. Thislimits the travel of the contact in the forward direction. Thus, whenthe contact 27 is moved to the position shown in FIGURE 3, it isprevented from axial movement in either direction.

The insertion and retention of the contact 34, and that of the contact39, of course, are the same as that of the contact 27.

When the forward pin ends of the contacts enter the space between thearcuate segments of the central oblique portions of the retainer clip,they spring these segments outwardly. The parts are dimensioned so thatthis will occur in order to assure firm engagement with the contacts anda consequent low-resistance current path. The arcuate segments,therefore, are resiliently biased against the surfaces of the contactsbetween them.

However, when only one contact is present in an opening in theconnector, its pin end will tend to cock the arcuate segments it engagesas they become expanded only at one end. Such cocking will make theentrance to the arcuate segments more narrow at their opposite ends.This may be avoided by providing transverse slots in the obliquesections that allow the two end portions of the arcuate segments thereofto move independently. Consequently, there are transverse slots 109 and110 at the center of the oblique segments 61 and 62, respectively, ofthe member 42. Similar slots 111 and 112 are provided in the obliquesections 87 and 88, respectively, of the member 43. As can be seen inFIGURE 2, there is no contact in the bottom portion of the openingreceiving the contact 39 at its upper end, yet the arcuate seg ments 64and maintain their axes parallel to that of the opening 14, as they arepermitted to flex independently above the slots and 112.

When the contacts 27, 34 and 39 are positioned Within the retainer clipassembly 41, an electrical connection is created as current can flowamong the contacts through the members 42 and 43. Each of the members 42and 43 acts as a carrier of electrical current. There is a large area ofengagement around the projecting pin portions of the contacts, where theopposed arcuate portions 63 and 89, and 64 and 90, substantiallycomplementarily engage the contacts (see FIGURE 6). This results in alow-resistance path for the current between each contact and the members42 and 43. Thus, a connection is effected among the wires 25, 32 and 40when the contacts 27, 34 and 39 are inserted into the retainer clipassembly 41 within the housing 10.

As the device is illustrated, three contacts 27, 34 and 39 are receivedWithin the retainer clip assembly 41. Obviously, other combinations ofcontacts may be made, and a fourth contact may be introduced into thelower portion of the left-hand opening 14 as seen in FIGURE 3.

The arrangement of this invention not only is advantageous in securelyholding the contacts in position and providing an effective electricalconnection, but also simplifies the insertion and removal of thecontacts. The contacts are held by a rear-release system wherein thereneed be access only to the rearward portions of the contacts where theyare joined to the wires, rather than to the forward ends of the contactsremote from the wires. Removal of any contact is effected by insertionof a standard tubular removal tool into the opening 14, which will prythe retaining tabs outwardly away from the rearward contact shoulder.Then, the contact is free to be pulled from the opening 14 by the wiresecured to it. Also, a tubular installation tool is utilized, pushingthe contacts into the openings 14 for engagement by the retainer clipassembly 41. While the sheet metal members 42 and 43 may be made ofrelatively light-gauge material, they securely hold the contacts and arenot vulnerable to damage during installation, removal or serviceconditions. The shapes of the parts allow the contacts to be insertedand removed Without catching or tending to bend or distort any of thecomponents. Consequently, there is a long service life for theconnector.

These advantages are obtained with a construction that is particularlysimple to manufacture. The retainer clip sections 42 and 43 are easilystamped and bent from fiat sheet metal, requiring no complicated orditficult fabrication procedures. They are less difiicult to form thanconventional retainer clips, which normally are of tubularconfiguration. In the present design, it is unnecessary to bend anythingto a tubular shape. No connection is necessary between the two sections42 and 43 of the retainer clip assembly 41 as they merely may be droppedinto place within the openings 14. In some instances, however, it may bepreferred to spot-weld or otherwise attach the retainer clip sectionstogether. This permits the retainer clip assembly 41 to be handled as aunit during assembly. A minimum number of parts is required for thecompleted connector, as the assembly 41 serves not only to retain thecontacts but also to provide the means of conducting electricity amongthem. I he need for a separate bus bar or other connecting element isentirely avoided.

The retainer clip 41 as shown in FIGURES 1 through 6, as mentionedabove, is devised to interconnect up to four contacts. However, thedesign is well adapted to connect other numbers of contacts as desired.As shown in FIGURE 7, the unit will bus together the contacts in four ofthe openings 14, so that eight contacts in all are interconnected.Nevertheless, only two pieces of sheet metal are required for theretainer clip assembly that holds all the contacts and serves as themeans to bus them together. In such a construction, the two sheet metalstrips 113 and 113a are formed similarly, but terminated at differentlocations. Each strip is extended laterally to reproduce an additionalsection of the clip assembly 41. There are, in effect, therefore, twosections 42 positioned in an edge-to-edge relationship and mated withsimilarly arranged sections 43 in the row of four openings 14 in thehousing 114. The housing 114 is provided with a slot 115 between the twocentral openings 14, and opposite additional slots 116 and 117 leadingto the outer openings 14. At the outer corners there are shorter slots118 and 119, similar to the slots 105 and 106. Very little modificationof the tooling is needed in molding the housing to provide for bussingof different combinations of contacts.

Normally, in production, it is preferred to manufacture the retainerclip elements from an elongated strip formed as illustrated in FIGURE 8.This strip may be cut transversely to then provide mating clipassemblies of any desired capacity. Actually, therefore, only one partforms both the sections 42 and the sections 43 needed in a completedcontact retainer of any size. Also, the sections 42 and 43 blendtogether in the contoured strip that is used to make up the assemblies.That is to say, the only real distinction between the sections 42 and 43is in the locations where the cuts are made in the contoured strip.Thus, the side portions of two adjacent sections 42 constitute a section43 if appropriately severed at the middle of their central walls alongthe lines A. Similarly, two adjoining sections 43 cut at their centersat the lines B then become a section 42. In a unit of the capacity ofthat shown in FIGURE 7, or larger, the various segments of the clipassembly serve simultaneously as portions of both the sections 42 andthe sections 43. Also, the device can be made to hold only two contactsin an end-to-end relationship through the use of two segments, each ofwhich extends between two adjacent lines A and B. Consequently, theretainer clip has great versatility, and it is one of the significantadvantages of this invention that only a single relatively easilyproduced strip need be cut to appropriate lengths to provide both partsof the retainer clip assembly made to any capacity.

As illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 7, the contacts are connected instraight rows. It is possible to interconnect contacts around a cornerwith a slight modification, such as shown in the left-hand portion ofFIGURE 2. Here, it may be seen that there is an outer sheet metalelement 120 that defines, in effect, two of the sections 42 in anedge-to-edge relationship interconnected by a transversely extendingsection 121. The mating part 122 is the equivalent of two of thesections 43 in an edge-toedge relationship, also interconnected by alateral portion 123. The result is a retainer clip arrangement thatinterconnects the four openings shown, which are positioned in a squarepattern rather than a continuous row. A slot 124 interconnects the twoleft-hand openings and receives the lateral portions 121 and 123 of theclip members 120 and 122.

The device has been described previously as relating to a feed-throughtype of electrical connector in which contacts are inserted from eitherend. It is equally adaptable for a junction device in which all thecontacts enter from one side. This type of arrangement is the equivalentof the feed-through construction, but only half the length. Thus, asseen in FIGURE 9, the retainer clip assembly 125 is made up of sections126 and 127 that are only half as long as the sections 42 and 43. Eachof these, therefore, includes only a single resilient retainer tab, thesection 126 having a tab 128, with an opposing tab 129 being provided onthe section 127. The central arcuate portions 130 and 131 of the twoclip portions 126 and 127 are dimensioned in length to receive only theprojecting pin portion of one contact. Also, there is an end wall 132over the bottom end of the housing 133 that closes the ends of theopenings 134. The clip assemblies 125 are arranged to bus together thecontacts in as many of the openings 134 as desired, so that the contactswill be interconnected in appropriate combinations.

The foregoing detailed description is to be clearly understood as givenby way of illustration and example only.

I claim:

1. A retainer clip device for receiving, holding and establishing anelectrical connection with an electrically conductive element comprisinga duality of sheet members,

each of said members having side edge portions, and an intermediateportion extending therebetween,

said side edge portions being in overlapping adjacent relationship, saidintermediate portions beingin opposed spaced relationship, each of saidmembers having a resilient tab means extending inwardly from theintermediate portion thereof toward the intermediate portion of theother of said'members,

said tab means having abutment surfaces for engaging the shoulder of acontact received therebetween, each of said intermediate portions havingan acurate segment for engaging the pin portionof a contact receivedtherebetween and establishing an electrical connection therewith,

each of said intermediate portions having an additional abutment surfacefor engaging another shoulder of a Contact,

said members including means for connection to an additionalelectrically conductive member. 2. An electrical connector comprising abody of dielectric material, said body having at least one openingtherein, an electrically conductive member in said opening, saidelectrically conductive member having a forward shoulder, a rearwardshoulder, and a contact surface, and a duality of sheet metal members insaid opening, said sheet metal members having opposed portions defininga receptacle receiving said electrically conductive member,

said opposed portions of said sheet metal members including deflectableresilient tab means adjacent said rearward shoulder for preventingmovement of said electrically conductive member in one direction,abutment means adjacent said forward shoulder for preventing movement ofsaid electrically conductive member in the opposite direction, meansresiliently engaging said contact surface for establishing an electricalconnection therewith, and means for connection to an additionalelectrically conductive member for establishing an electrical connectionbetween said first-mentioned electrically conductive member and saidadditional electrically conductive member. 3. An electrical connectordevice comprising a body of rigid dielectric material,

said body having an opening therein, an electrical contact in saidopening,

said contact including a rearwardly facing shoulder, a forwardly facingshoulder, and a forward pin portion, and a plurality of sheet metalmembers in said opening,

said members including resilient tab means inclined inwardly toward theaxis of said opening, said tab means including a surface adjacent saidrearwardly facing shoulder for preventing removal of said contact in arearward direction, said members including arcuate portions,

said arcuate portions receiving and engaging said pin portion of saidcontact for establishing an electrical connection therewith, saidmembers including surface means adjacent said forward shoulder of saidcontact for preventing movement of said contact in a forward direction,said members further including means for connection to an electricallyconductive element for conduction of current between said element andsaid contact. 4. An electrical connector device comprising a body ofdielectric material,

said body having an opening and having a duality of spaced slots incommunication with and extending longitudinaly of said opening, acontact in said opening,

said contact having a rearward shoulder, a forward shoulder, and aforward portion beyond said forward shoulder, a duality of sheet metalmembers in said opening,

said members including marginal portions in abutment and received insaid slots, the portions of said sheet metal members intermediate saidmarginal portions defining a receptacle receiving said contact,

said receptacle including spaced portions of said members resilientlygripping said forward portion of said contact, a first abutment engagingsaid forward shoulder of said contact, and a second abutment engagingsaid rearward should of said contact,

1% said second abutment including a spring element engageablereardwardly of said contact and adapted to be pried away from saidrearward shoulder for thereby releasing said contact, and means forconnecting said members to an additional electrically conductiveelement. 5. A device as recited in claim 4 including in addition asecond contact in said opening in end-to-end rela tionship with saidfirst-mentioned contact for providing said additional electricallyconductive element,

said second contact being similar in configuration to saidfirst-mentioned contact, said means for connecting said members to saidadditional electrically conductive element including an extension ofsaid sheet metal members in said opensaid extension including marginalportions and an intermediate portion similar in configuration to saidfirst-mentioned marginal and intermediate portions, said intermediateportion of said extension engaging said second contact similarly to theengage ment of said first-mentioned intermediate portion and saidfirst-mentioned contact.

6. A device as recited in claim 5 in which said spaced portions of saidmembers are arcuate, said spaced portions including transverse slotstherein intermediate the forward portions of said contacts for allowingindepend ent flexure upon the introduction of said forward portions ofsaid contacts.

7. A device as recited in claim 4 in which said body of dielectricmaterial includes an additional opening adjacent said first-mentionedopening,

said body including additional spaced slots extending longitudinally ofand in communication with said additional opening,

one of said additional slots forming an extension of one of saidfirst-mentioned slots. said means for connection to an additionalelectrically conductive element including a lateral extension of saidsheet metal members extending through said one slot and said extensionthereof into said additional opening,

said extension including additional marginal portions in said otheradditional slot, and including an additional intermediate portion insaid additional opening similar in configuration to said first-mentionedintermediate portion.

and including, in addition, a second contact, in said additional openingfor providing said additional electrically conductive element,

said second contact being similar in configuration to saidfirst-mentioned contact,

said additional intermediate portion engaging said second contactsimilarly to the engagement of said first-mentioned intermediate portionand said first-mentioned contact. 8. An electrical connecting devicecomprising a body of rigid dielectric material,

said body having an opening therein,

said opening having a central portion and a duality of slots extendinglaterally therefrom on opposite sides thereof, an electrical contact insaid central portion of said opening,

said electrical contact including a rearwardly facing shoulder, aforwardly facing shoulder, and a substantially cylindrical pin portion,and a duality of sheet metal members in said opening, each of saidmembers including a duality of side edge portions,

said side edge portions of said members being in interengagement andreceived in said slots, each of said members including a first arcuateportion interconnecting said side edge portions,

each of said first arcuate portions including a resilient tab meansextending inwardly toward the axis of said central portion of saidopening and having a surface adjacent said rearward shoulder forprecluding movement of said contact in a rearward direction,

each of said members including an oblique section, each of said obliquesections including a second arcuate portion, said second arcuateportions of said oblique sections engaging said pin portion on oppositesides thereof and establishing an electrical connection therewith, eachof said second arcuate portions including a surface adjacent saidforward shoulder for preventing movement of said contact in a forwarddirection, said members including means for connection to anelectrically conductive member for establishing a connection betweensuch an electrically conductive member and said electrical contact.

9. A device as recited in claim 8 in which each of said first arcuateportions extends through approximately 90.

10. A device as recited in claim 8 in which each of said resilient tabmeans is an arcuate element having a first substantially longitudinaledge, and a second substantially radial edge defining said surfaceadjacent said rearward shoulder.

11. A device as recited in claim 10 in which each of said resilient tabmeans is substantially spiral-shaped.

12. A device as recited in claim 8 in which each of said second arcuateportions includes a radially and axially outwardly inclined edge portionfor facilitating entry of said pin portion between said second arcuateportions, said edge portions defining said surfaces adjacent saidforward shoulder.

13. A device for receiving, retaining and forming an electricalconnection with an electrical contact comprising a body of rigiddielectric material,

said body having an opening therein, a duality of sheet metal members insaid opening,

said members being in opposed relationship to define a receptacleadapted to receive an electrical contact, each of said members includinga resilient tab inclined inwardly toward the axis of said opening,

said tabs having abutment surfaces for engaging a shoulder on anelectrical contact received in said receptacle for preventing movementof said contact in one direction, said members including opposed spacedarcuate portions for gripping a portion of said electrical contacttherebetween and providing an electrical connection therewith saidarcuate portions having abutment surfaces adjacent and spaced from saidabutment surfaces of said tabs for engaging another shoulder of saidcontact and preventing movement of said contact in the oppositedirection,

and means for providing a connection to an additional electricallyconductive member.

14. A device as recited in claim 13 in which for said means forproviding a connection to an additional electrically conductive membersaid body is provided with an additional opening therein adjacent saidfirst-mentioned opening,

and a slot interconnecting said openings, said members having lateralextensions in said slot, and additional portions in said additionalopening and connected to said lateral extensions,

said additional portions including resilient tabs and arcuate portionssimilar to said first-mentioned resilient tabs and arcuate portions,

whereby said additional portions are adapted to receive and provide anelectrical connection with an additional electrical contact.

15. A device as recited in claim 13 in which said means for providing aconnection to an additional electrically conductive member includesextensions of said arcuate portions,

said extensions having abutment surfaces thereon,

each of said members being extended beyond said extensions of saidarcuate portions and including an additional resilient tab inclinedinwardly toward the axis of said opening,

said additional tabs having abutment surfaces adjacent and spaced fromsaid abutment surfaces of said extensions of said arcuate portions,

whereby said members are adapted to receive and provide an electricalconnection with an additional electrical contact.

16. A device as recited in claim 15 in which each of said members isprovided with a transverse slot between said arcuate portion thereof andsaid extension of said arcuate portion, for thereby allowing saidarcuate portion and said extension of said arcuate portion to flexindependently in receiving and gripping electrical contacts.

17. A device for retaining a plurality of electrical contacts in anelectrically conductive relationship comprising a duality of sheet metalmembers,

the first of said sheet metal members including a duality of spacedplanar longitudinal side edge portions,

a sidewall projecting substantially vertically from each of said sideedge portions inwardly of the outer edge thereof,

an arcuate portion extending through approximately and extending fromthe upper edge of each of said sidewalls,

a planar central Wall interconnecting the inner edges of said arcuateportions,

said central Wall being parallel to said side edge portions, each ofsaid arcuate portions including a resilient tab inclined inwardly towardthe axis thereof,

each of said tabs having an abutment surface at the inner portionthereof, said first member including a duality of oblique portionsadjacent the ends of said arcuate portions,

each of said oblique portions extending from a sidewall to said centralWall,

said oblique portions converging toward said central wall, each of saidoblique portions including an arcuate portion centrally thereof andhaving an end surface adjacent and spaced from said abutment surface ofsaid tab, the second of said members including a duality of secondrelatively wide spaced planar longitudinal side edge portions,

a duality of second arcuate portions extending from the inner edges ofsaid second side edge portions, a duality of parallel spaced inner wallsextending from the ends of said second arcuate portions andsubstantially normal to said second side edge portions, said secondmember including a relatively narrow planar longitudinally extendingsecond central wall substantially parallel to said secand side edgeportions and interconnecting the ends of said inner walls thereof,

each of said second arcuate portions including a second resilient tabinclined inwardly toward the axis thereof,

each of said second tabs having an abutment surface at the inner portionthereof, said second member including a duality of second obliqueportions,

said second oblique portions interconnecting said second side edgeportions and said inner walls, said second oblique portions beingconvergent toward said inner walls, each of said second oblique portionsincluding an arcuate portion centrally thereof and having an end surfaceadjacent and spaced from said surface of said second tab, said side edgeportions of said first member overlapping and abutting the marginalportions of said second side edge portions, said central wall of saidfirst member overlapping and abutting said second central Wall, saidoblique portions of said first member being opposed to said secondoblique portions, and said arcuate portions of said oblique portions ofsaid first member being opposed to said arcuate portions of said secondoblique portions,

whereby said first and second members define a duality of receptaclestherethrough adapted to receive electrical contacts, a body ofsubstantially rigid dielectric material, said body having a duality ofopenings therein, each of said openings receiving an arcuate portion ofsaid first member and a second arcuate portion, and receiving an obliqueportion of said first member and a second oblique portion, said bodyincluding a first slot receiving said abutting central portions of saidmembers,

said first slot extending between and communicating with said openings,said body including an additional slot communicating with each of saidopenings,

each additional slot receiving one of said overlapping side edgeportions of said first member and said marginal portion of said secondside edge portion, said body having a shoulder at either end of saidopenings adjacent the ends of said first and and second members forpreventing axial movement of said first and second members in saidopenings relative to said body.

18. A device for providing a retainer clip assembly for connecting andretaining electrical contacts comprising a strip of sheet metal,

said strip including a series of identical sections, each sectionincluding a central portion, a side portion adjacent either side of saidcentral portion, and a portion extending between said central portionand each of said side portions,

said portions extending between said central portion and said sideportions including recessed segments and abutment surfaces, saidsections including inwardly bent resilient tab means,

said tab means including abutment surfaces, said strip further includingportions interconnecting the side portions of adjacent sections,

whereby said strip is severable at said interconnecting portions and atsaid central portions intermediate said oblique sections to providemating units for receiving and retaining electrical contacts. 19. Adevice as recited in claim 18 in which said portions extending from saidcentral portion to said side portions are oblique and convergent saidcentral portion.

20. A device as recited in claim 18 in which said identical sectionsinclude arcuate portions interconnecting said central portions and saidside portions,

said portions extending between said central portion and said sideportions being oblique, convergent toward said central portion, spacedapart at said central portion, and spaced from said tabs, said recessedsegments being arcuate for engaging the sides of an electrical contact.

21. A device as recited in claim 20 in which said side portions aresubstantially normal to said central portion a and to saidinterconnecting portions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,674,441 6/1928 McKinley 339-2082,402,578 6/1946 Rollow 339-205 3,354,421 11/1967 Rodgers 339242 X3,383,642 5/1968 Nova et al. 3392l7 X 3,383,644 5/1968 Nova et al.339-242 X 5 RICHARD E. MOORE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

32 3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.189 D d April 21, 1970 I v Perrin C. Culver It is certified that errorappears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent arehereby corrected as shown below:

Column 8, line 68, "acurate" should read arcuate Column 10, line 51,contact, in" should read contact in SIGNED KND SEALED AUG 4 .1910

fiEAL) Afloat: mm mm! E. mm, m. Awest'mg Officer Oomissioner of Patents

